Parents’ and Coaches’ Guide to Dehydration and Other Heat Illnesses in Children.


These guidelines were developed to help parents and coaches increase the safety and performance of children who play sports in hot weather.

Children who play sports or are physically active in hot weather can be at risk for heat illnesses. The good news is heat illnesses can be prevented and successfully treated. Children sweat less than adults. This makes it harder for children to cool off. Parents and coaches must make sure that children take it slow to be sure they can get used to the heat and humidity gradually. There are other reasons why a child may become ill from a heat illness. Those who have a low level of fitness, who are sick, or who have suffered from dehydration or heat illness in the past should be closely watched.

  • Dehydration
    Children get dehydrated if they do not replace body fluids lost by sweating. Being even a little dehydrated can make a child feel bad and play less effectively. Dehydration also puts children at risk for more dangerous heat illnesses.
     
    Signs and Symptoms
    Dry mouth
    Thirst
    Being irritable or cranky
    Headache
    Seeming bored or disinterested
    Dizziness
    Cramps
    Excessive fatigue
    Child not able to run as fast or play as well as usual.    		 Treatment
    Move child to a shaded or air-conditioned area.
    Give him or her fluids to drink.

    "When can I play again?"
    A child may be active again as soon as he or she is
    symptom-free. However, it’s important to continue
    to watch the child

    Heat Cramps
    Heat cramps are a mild heat illness that can be easily treated. These intense muscle spasms usually develop after a child has been exercising for a while and has lost large amounts of fluid and salt from sweating. While heat cramps are more common in children who perform in the heat, they can
    also occur when it’s not hot (for example, during ice hockey or swimming). Children who sweat a lot or have a high concentration of salt in their sweat may be more likely to get heat cramps. Heat cramps can largely be avoided by being adequately conditioned, getting used to the heat and humidity slowly, and being sure a child eats and drinks properly.
     

    Signs and Symptoms
    Intense pain (not associated with pulling or straining a muscle)
    Persistent muscle contractions that continue during and after exercise

         		 Treatment
    The child should be given a sports drink to help replace fluid and sodium losses.
    Light stretching, relaxation and massage of the cramped muscles may help.

    Heat Exhaustion

    Heat exhaustion is a moderate heat illness that occurs when a child continues to be physically active even after he or she starts suffering from ill effects of the heat, like dehydration. The child’s body struggles to keep up with the demands, leading to heat exhaustion.

    Signs and Symptoms
    Child finds it hard or impossible to keep playing
    Loss of coordination, dizziness or fainting
    Dehydration
    Profuse sweating or pale skin
    Headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
    Stomach/intestinal cramps or persistent muscle cramps    		 Treatment
    Move child to a shaded or air-conditioned area.
    Remove any extra clothing and equipment.
    Cool the child with cold water, fans or cold towels (replace towels frequently).
    Have child lie comfortably with legs raised above heart level.
    If the child is not nauseated or vomiting, have him or her drink chilled water or sports drink.
    The child’s condition should improve rapidly, but if there is little or no improvement, take the child for emergency medical treatment.

    A child should not be allowed to return to play until all symptoms of heat exhaustion and dehydration are gone. Avoid intense practice in heat until at least the next day, and if heat exhaustion was severe, wait longer. If the child received emergency medical treatment, he or she should not be allowed to return until his or her doctor approves and gives specific return-to-play instructions.
    Parents and coaches should rule out any other conditions or illnesses that may predispose the child for continued problems with heat exhaustion. Correct these problems before the child returns to full participation in the heat, especially for sports with equipment.

    Parents: How Much Should Your Child Drink When Active?
    Before activity in the heat, record your child’s body weight. (Remember if your child has already been exercising in the heat, he or she may already be dehydrated.) Weigh your child again, after the activity is over. Compare your child’s preactivity body weight to his or her post-activity body
    weight. If post-activity weight is less than pre-activity weight, your child is not drinking enough fluids while active. A loss of as little as 1 percent of body weight can cause a decrease in performance.
    Because scientists have proven that children replace less of their fluid losses when drinking water, you may want to offer a flavored sports drink to increase the amount of fluid your child consumes.

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